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Ziou M, Gao CX, Wheeler AJ, Zosky GR, Stephens N, Knibbs LD, Williamson GJ, Dalton MF, Dharmage SC, Johnston FH. Exposure to air pollution concentrations of various intensities in early life and allergic sensitisation later in childhood. BMC Pulm Med 2023; 23:516. [PMID: 38129862 PMCID: PMC10740230 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-023-02815-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on the relationship between air pollution and allergic sensitisation in childhood is inconsistent, and this relationship has not been investigated in the context of smoke events that are predicted to increase with climate change. Thus, we aimed to evaluate associations between exposure in two early life periods to severe levels of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) from a mine fire, background PM2.5, and allergic sensitisation later in childhood. METHODS We measured specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels for seven common aeroallergens as well as total IgE levels in a cohort of children who had been exposed to the Hazelwood coal mine fire, either in utero or during their first two years of life, in a regional area of Australia where ambient levels of PM2.5 are generally low. We estimated personal exposure to fire-specific emissions of PM2.5 based on a high-resolution meteorological and pollutant dispersion model and detailed reported movements of pregnant mothers and young children during the fire. We also estimated the usual background exposure to PM2.5 at the residential address at birth using a national satellite-based land-use regression model. Associations between both sources of PM2.5 and sensitisation to dust, cat, fungi, and grass seven years after the fire were estimated with logistic regression, while associations with total IgE levels were estimated with linear regression. RESULTS No association was found between the levels of exposure at either developmental stage to fire-related PM2.5 and allergic sensitisation seven years after the event. However, levels of background exposure were positively associated with sensitisation to dust (OR = 1.90, 95%CI = 1.12,3.21 per 1 μg/m3). CONCLUSIONS Chronic but low exposure to PM2.5 in early life could be more strongly associated with allergic sensitisation in childhood than time-limited high exposure levels, such as the ones experienced during landscape fires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Ziou
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia.
| | - Caroline X Gao
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Amanda J Wheeler
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Environment, Aspendale, Victoria, 3195, Australia
| | - Graeme R Zosky
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
| | - Nicola Stephens
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
| | - Luke D Knibbs
- School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Public Health Research Analytics and Methods for Evidence, Public Health Unit, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Grant J Williamson
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 7005, Australia
| | - Marita F Dalton
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
| | - Shyamali C Dharmage
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Fay H Johnston
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
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